What's the point? I don't have to show you my gun. I don't have to ID myself. I don't have to do [ __ ] I I don't even have to actually be standing here listening to this. >> I don't ID. >> You don't ID? >> I don't ID. >> So, you just walk around the jail filming the jail? >> A decision to demand an ID may seem minor, but it can put an entire career on the line. >> What's your name and badge number? >> I need your ID. >> You approached me. >> Hm? >> You approached me. >> I know I did. And I need your >> your ID. >> When civil rights are challenged the wrong way, the price to pay is not just an argument, but the trust of the entire community. A man was simply walking when officers suddenly approached him. One question kept echoing. Am I being detained? The police said no. Yet everything unfolding suggested otherwise. And from that moment on, the tension began to rise. >> Am I being detained? So, he was told I wasn't detained. I was just told I wasn't detained. I was just told I'm not being detained. No, I was just told I'm not being detained, so this is illegal right now. >> illegal, cuz you >> I was just told I'm not being detained. How is it not illegal? >> Step back over here, man. >> How am How is this not illegal if I was just told by this officer I'm not being detained? Am I being detained, officer? Yes or no? >> And we're going to ask you some questions. >> You don't have that right. >> Well, actually we're going to ask a doctor >> Okay, well then you can ask whatever you want. I I invoke my right to remain silent. >> I got that. I got that. All right, just watch your >> And if y'all could back up off me, I feel threatened. Both of y'all have guns, I feel threatened. So, I do, I know, but right now y'all are civilians cuz this is an illegal detention. So, right now y'all are two civilians with guns and I feel intimidated. So, please ask your questions so I can go about my walk. I'm being stopped by Bernie PD again illegally for performing an illegal performing an illegal act provided to me by the Constitution as well as the state of Texas to openly carry my rifle, but they don't seem to understand or comprehend the laws that the legislation has passed to [ __ ] protect me from this. So, again, two more [ __ ] violating my [ __ ] rights. This gentleman right here that I'm pointing to informed me I wasn't being detained, then this [ __ ] [ __ ] decided to get in my way and prevent me from going about my walk, which is illegal. This gentleman has not been involved yet so far, so I have nothing to to say about this gentleman. >> Please don't touch me. >> But that he's internal? >> No, no, not internal. >> Oh, I thought you said oh, good. Oh, okay. I I would just like to go about my walk. You said I was not detained. What Well, what aggravated me for a second is this gentleman. You told me I wasn't detained, and he tried to ball hog my way. Look at him. Punch him. >> Let's focus on me. Let's focus on the outstanding over there. >> If you could, I'd like to stay away from this [ __ ] >> Okay. No, no, just >> Like me and you guys So, me and you right over here, yeah. >> After more than 2 minutes of verbal back and forth, nothing was clearly resolved. He was told he wasn't being detained, yet he wasn't definitively free to leave either. And just when the conversation seemed to settle, the officers shifted their focus to something else, the firearm he was carrying. >> I I got nothing on my hands. I'm not >> Yes, you have the right to do what you do. >> Is it even Okay, is this not illegal then what you are doing? >> What what what we're Well, it's not illegal. illegal to find out, to see, to make sure. Because weapons that you carry, if it if it's if it's a fully automatic weapon, you can't carry it. >> Okay, but you have to illegally find that out because I'm not going to give up nothing. >> Well, we're not we're not We're not having actually to give it up. >> No. >> If if you can if you can show that the weapon is not >> I don't need to. I don't need to. >> Well, actually you do, but we can't verify >> State law doesn't say I have to provide that information. >> Federal law says >> No, it doesn't. >> Listen. Okay, I don't want to argue with >> Then let me go about my way. >> I have nothing. I'm not going to let >> Then please let me go about my way. >> Let me finish my questions and then we'll >> Uh you can finish them, but you will honestly, as of this point right now, I'm remaining silent. >> Okay, that's I mean that's that's absolutely fine. I have I have no problem with that. Is it loaded? Cuz the making the scene, if you wanted to cause a scene in the small town of Burnet, that's what you're doing. >> See, it's the I understand where you're coming from, but you all need to misunderstand that just because a person exercise their rights isn't them trying to make a scene. Then please let me go about my You know, cops always say that I'm all about that. I'm all about that, but cops continue to stop and harass people performing their Second Amendment. Because I'm not being You said I wasn't detained. You said I wasn't being detained and I asked to leave and I've been stopped by this officer and now I'm being forced. Can I walk then? Can I walk about my way if I'm not if you're not detaining me? >> Can I ask you? Just let me ask you. You don't have to be mad at me. I'm not I'm not taking the gun away. >> Well, but I'm I'm irritated because this continues to happen. I keep getting stopped for performing a legal act. >> If you'll let me explain why >> And and I'll give my explanation. Please, go ahead. >> And I and I I see this all the time. I got I know why people open carry and you can. You open carry your rifle. And you can now you can even even have >> Handgun. Yeah, and the the reason I don't have a handgun is cuz I don't currently have a permit for that, so that's why I carry the rifle. Yeah. >> The only thing that we it makes the people nervous. So, when somebody If you were walking along doing something and you saw something that made you uncomfortable, would you not want us to check and see what's going >> I would, but I would I would expect Can I finish on that? Okay, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> When the request to inspect the weapon was made and firmly refused, the atmosphere noticeably intensified and instead of cooling down, the situation entered a new phase with more specific demands met by even stronger refusals. Would it stop at a heated argument or spiral far beyond control? >> Would you not want us to check and see what's going on? >> Okay, can I Can I respond to that question now? Okay, yes, I would, but the proper way of responding would be to drive by, see that I'm doing nothing illegal, I'm carrying my weapon properly, and then to go about your business and inform the citizens that the gentleman is doing nothing wrong, and their ignorance is not an excuse to why y'all get to harass me. What you did and you're right. You were about to let me go about my business. You're 100% right. And and I probably would have had this gentleman not [ __ ] turned on the anger switch. But but he's affiliated with you, so it groups all y'all together. And that's what you're doing. You're grouping me with illegals to find out if I'm doing anything. Exactly. Then see see how it go. Then then let's go Let me go about my Let Okay. I'd rather not. I would like to continue my walk. Then can I please continue my No, I cannot. Had it just been you, officer, I might have been a little I might honestly been a little bit more forthcoming, but that My My have already been violated by jerk ass patton right there. So, I choose to not [ __ ] >> Let's do this. Let's do >> There's nothing to be done. You can keep You can keep trying to to compromise and compromise, but I'm not compromising nothing. >> trying to compromise. >> Both sides were speaking at the same time, yet no one seemed to truly listen. One side cited procedural duty, the other emphasized constitutional rights. And as the prolonged exchange appeared to reach a stalemate, the most crucial question was raised once again. A question that could determine the entire outcome of this encounter. >> I would like to be able to when I drive off to go tell my supervisor so that every time somebody calls tonight, I can say that I spoke with you. >> You know, I didn't ID yourself. That's not the point. >> I don't have to do [ __ ] That's the point. I don't have to show you my gun. I don't have to ID myself. I don't have to do [ __ ] I I don't even have to actually be standing here listening to this. >> And and I appreciate the fact you are talking to me. So, what I what I would like to ask so that when somebody else from the city of Bernie calls cuz we're going to get calls every time somebody sees it. >> Yes, sir. And I get it in my hometown as well. >> And And if I can when they call, if I can say I've talked with him. I've checked everything out and he's fine. Just leave him alone. >> Yeah, just to talking to me should be enough. >> That good. If you if we can walk over there, show me it's not loaded and I'll drive away. I'm just asking. I'm not >> And and I'm and I'm answering your question, so no. >> Okay. Because every time they call us, this is what's going to happen. >> No, no. As it this shouldn't happen. Every time they call, y'all should drive by, see that I'm not doing anything legal, and continue about your [ __ ] business. That's what should happen. >> Well, I I If I have I don't have no problem driving by. >> Then why didn't you do it to begin with? >> I tried to. I tried to call >> And and I tried to continue about my business. And can I say are you the senior officer here between these two? Then why the [ __ ] didn't you tell him that you had told me that I wasn't detained and let me go about my business instead of standing there letting him impede my process? >> Because when you start getting mad at us and you don't have dialogue with me >> I didn't get I didn't get mad till he told me till he got this close to me and told me, "You need to back up over there." That's when I started getting aggravated. So, he violated my personal space, which would have been within every legal for mine to hit this man in the face. >> That's absolutely correct. >> Then that is correct because I wasn't being detained That is correct because I wasn't being detained and you were in my personal space impeding my progress. So, yeah, that that is correct. >> Now, before we get all That's the whole thing. I'm not trying to get in your way. I'm trying to when somebody else calls. >> Well, then let me ask this. If I walked away right now, would y'all have or would could would y'all [ __ ] run up on me and hit me up? >> going to run up on anybody. >> Oh, so I can walk away then. >> I more than likely, yeah. >> No, I need a yes to know because I don't want to walk away and this guy >> because if if they call again, I'm going to have to do the same thing. >> Well, no, no, you See, that's what you're misunderstanding. You won't have to do the same thing. >> you're missing. >> No, no, no, no, no. >> By policy from my department I'm going to be have to come over every time. >> All you would have to do is drive by and see that's the same gentleman I talked to earlier. I'm going to keep going. So, there is no need for you later on to pull up and have a conversation with me again. >> Okay. When we have a conversation and we're not yelling at you. >> But I'm I'm yelling cuz my rights are being violated as we speak. >> But I'm not I'm I'm not violating your rights. >> You You have not told me I can walk away yet. >> I I said I asked you I even asked you, "May I ask you a question?" >> You did and I've asked you, "May I walk away?" and your answer >> The officers insisted they were simply following procedure. He maintained that his rights were being obstructed. No one backed down. No one conceded. And when the patience on both sides finally reached its limit, a final answer was delivered. >> I said >> I don't know or maybe or something along those lines. You didn't give me a definite yes or no answer. May I walk away? >> yes or no. I said I said I said I said before you go, may I ask you a question? >> No, I'm talking about two minutes not even two minutes ago. I just asked, "May I leave?" and you didn't give me a definite yes or no. >> "May I ask you a question before you go?" >> So, so I can go? >> don't have to answer. >> So, I can go. You're acknowledging I can go. >> Your your response was "I don't have to answer you." And I said, "You are correct." And I said, "May I ask you a question?" And then you And that's all I did. >> And all I've been trying to do is leave. All I've been trying to do walk out of here. That's three. Probably the same jerk ass that drove by earlier. Okay, that's a supervisor. Well, maybe he can get y'all's head out of y'all's ass and let me go about my [ __ ] business. Because again, sir, it has been 10 minutes. My rights have been being violated, and as an officer, you should be upholding the fact that I have this right. Then please answer my question. Can I walk? Yes or no? So, you told me I wasn't detained. You Well, then I'll see y'all later. Come on, baby. That's all I needed to hear. You're not detained. You too, sir. Hey, he's sarcastically waving [music] at me, so I'm responding to that. That That's a That's a That's a First Amendment protected right, also. Yeah, please. Yeah, please tell him it's okay. Your officer Hold on. Let me explain why I did the finger. Your officer, while y'all's back was turned, smiled and sarcastically waved at me. I have it on camera. So, in response I threw him the finger, which is a First Amendment protected right. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. They have to file a disturbance. And you can't seek a disturbance. They have to file the disturbance. What crowd? If what you're saying If what you're saying is plausible, I don't see a crowd. was legal. No, what are you saying to the thing behind me? Hey, but it still was That's a First Amendment protected right. >> No arrest took place in that moment. But what was captured on camera may continue to spark debate and possibly even legal consequences long after everyone has left the scene. Up next, simply for holding a camera, the man suddenly found himself being questioned as if he were undergoing a psychological evaluation. EMS was called. The officers continued pressing him with questions. >> Sir, do you understand us? Do you speak English? Do you know what today's date is? You're being videotaped, too, sir. I got a body camera. So, it's recording both ways. Do you understand me? Yes, no? I have EMS come and check out on case you're you have some sort of mental or or trauma to your head, okay? You have any ID on you? You have no ID? Okay. Cool. Do you know our current president is? All right. Well, FD and EMS are right here. They're linked with our department. They're going to come check you out for any medical-related issues, okay? You don't have any weapons or anything like that on you? No? Excuse me, sir. You can't be recording that. >> Excuse me? >> allowed to record in this facility. >> How is a servant going to come to the master with lies? You know I'm allowed to record this. >> Okay. What's going on, man? >> You see it. >> What are you taking pictures of? >> Whatever I want. >> For your grandma? >> Excuse me? >> For your grandma? >> For your grandma? >> Yeah, is that what you said? For your grandma? >> No. >> You on drugs, sir? Acting mighty suspicious. >> What's that? >> You're acting mighty suspicious. You got any ID on you? >> What's that? >> You got any ID on you? Name badge or number? >> but I was asking if you needed anything. That's all I'm asking. >> No. Hello. >> What's going on? >> Walking down the street. >> Hey, you got your ID on you? >> No. >> You don't have an ID? >> No. >> After a series of questions about his awareness and the arrival of medical personnel, it seemed the situation might finally de-escalate. But instead of ending, the encounter took a completely different turn. And what happened next made the atmosphere more tense than ever. >> Do you have any No, sir, I don't. But, I will tell you that I starred in a store um I starred in a couple made-for-TV docudramas. One was uh Violating a Citizen's Right in an LEO Love Story. So, it'd be on YouTube. And the other was the uh the uh Thin Blue G-String and the Tales of uh Domestic Violence and Steroid Abuse. You can find them on YouTube. I played a starring role. So. >> Don't just go all the way down. >> [laughter] >> Don't go all the way down. Come in this way. Don't just go all the way down. >> You got to be smarter than the blind sometimes, I said. >> [laughter] >> Okay, he can't tell us who he is. We don't got to give him nothing. >> A records request can be made anonymously. That's the Florida law, honey. >> Well, I ain't got it then. >> I I I I did study it. That's why I'm here. >> STUDYING IT THEN. >> [laughter] >> GET IT FROM THEM. GET PUBLIC RECORDS from them. Look in the Look in the book then. It should be in there if it's public records. >> [screaming] >> The argument over the right to film and loitering hadn't even cooled down before the air grew heavier. The exchange sharpened, with each side insisting the law was on their side. But, instead of stopping at a verbal warning, the situation moved into a new phase, where questions about identity and authority were raised more directly than ever. >> Hey, how are YOU DOING? COME ON OUT, MAN. He just recorded us, man. >> Hey, I'll wait outside for him, okay? Oh, I can wait in here? What's up, man? >> How you doing? >> Good. How are you doing? >> Good. Do you need anything? >> Yeah, what's going on? >> I don't have a clue. >> Okay. Why were Why were we called? >> I didn't call you. >> You told the lady that you'd wait outside for us. >> Oh, the lady called you guys. >> Yeah. >> I just wasn't going to have you guys run around looking for me. >> Oh. >> I'd wait here for But, whatever her reason is, you probably want to speak with her. >> Well, I'm asking you what you're doing. You got a video camera in my face, so I don't have a video camera in your face. >> I'm doing what free men do. Whatever I want. That's legal. >> Okay. Um what's your business here, though? >> Um my business is my personal business. I don't really share with strangers. >> property, though. >> This is private? >> Yeah, it's owned by the county. >> Oh, the county's private now? >> No, no, no, no. This is just >> right? >> Yeah, this specific building >> is public, public property. >> But, there's there's a sign on the door that says no loitering. >> Yeah, I'm not loitering. >> Well, you're conducting business here, not doing anything related to what's going on here. >> I'm doing a constitutional >> the literal definition of loitering. >> Well, the literal definition is that you can't turn a constitutional >> As the discussion shifted to public property and internal policy, the two sides moved into to direct standoff. And then, a decision was made, one that could change the entire course of this encounter. >> take an activity and turn it to a crime like what you do. >> your What is your constitutionally protected activity? >> The right to free press. >> Okay. >> Smith versus City of Cummings, 11th District, the right to record our public officials in the course of their public duties. >> Okay, but you're not recording any specific public officials. >> Sure, and that lady is a public official. >> Well, who are you recording right now? >> You. You're a public official. >> Okay, outside of that. >> I don't have to have a >> I'm gone. Let me see your identification. >> Excuse me? >> Let me see your ID. >> I don't ID. >> Hm? >> I don't ID. >> You don't ID? >> I don't ID. >> So, you just walk around the jail filming the jail? >> I walk in publicly accessible areas, yes, sir. What's your name and badge number? >> I need your ID. >> You approached me. You approached me. >> I know I did, and I need your ID. >> I don't talk to strangers. >> Hm? >> I don't talk to strangers. I definitely don't give ID to strangers. >> What's your name? >> I can't read. I'm illiterate. I'm illiterate. I can't read. Well, how do you pronounce that? >> Stiefdoc. >> Stiefdoc. >> Mhm. >> Sergeant. Badge number? >> 127. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> Now, where is your ID? >> Do you suspect me of >> You're not going to identify yourself or your filming. >> Do you suspect me of a crime? >> Hm? >> Do you suspect me of a crime? >> Filming outside of a jail. >> Is that a crime? >> Hm? >> Is that a crime? >> One time. >> Okay. I'll be right here. >> I need you to provide me with identification. >> This is not county property. >> You're You're trespassed from the property. I need your identification. Do you have Do you have your driver's with you right now? Do you have a name? I might be suspicious of criminal trespass. Will you identify yourself? >> Are you detaining me? >> Yes. >> For what crime? >> Trespassing on private property. Take this off for Do you have anything on you? >> Yes. >> What do you have on you? Is there anything illegal? >> Cigarettes and lighter. >> Cigarettes and lighter? >> Yes, sir. >> Do you have any ID? >> No. >> Will you identify yourself or >> For what crime? >> The tension was razor sharp. The camera was still rolling. And the decision made in that moment might not end at the scene. It could echo into legal battles afterward. A citizen can file [music] a lawsuit under Section 1983 when their rights are violated. An officer found in violation could face financial liability, disciplinary action, or even termination. A civilized society is not built on confrontation, but on mutual understanding, [music] accountability, and a shared respect for the rule of law. Hey, everyone. What do you think about this situation? 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